U.S. patent number 6,189,783 [Application Number 09/196,234] was granted by the patent office on 2001-02-20 for system for aiding in use of a facility arranged to equip visitors with portable information storing units, method for aiding in use of a facility, and recording medium for recording the method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hitachi, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jun Furuya, Tsutomu Hatakeyama, Hiroki Kitagawa, Yukie Motomiya.
United States Patent |
6,189,783 |
Motomiya , et al. |
February 20, 2001 |
System for aiding in use of a facility arranged to equip visitors
with portable information storing units, method for aiding in use
of a facility, and recording medium for recording the method
Abstract
A system and a method for aiding in the use of a facility
arranged to equip each visitor with a portable information storing
unit is provided for registering several visitors as a group in the
portable information storing unit such as an IC card. One visitor
holding the portable information storing unit can grasp how another
visitor of the group is moving about the facility and exchange a
message with another visitor. Further, the facility provides access
terminals for the portable information storing unit, on which the
visitable unit facilities, the visiting history of each visitor,
and a waiting time of each unit facility are displayed.
Inventors: |
Motomiya; Yukie (Kokubunji,
JP), Kitagawa; Hiroki (Foster City, CA), Furuya;
Jun (Hachioji, JP), Hatakeyama; Tsutomu
(Tachikawa, JP) |
Assignee: |
Hitachi, Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
18111963 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/196,234 |
Filed: |
November 20, 1998 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 20, 1997 [JP] |
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9-319589 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/375; 235/381;
701/491; 701/433; 701/526 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
99/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
17/00 (20060101); G06F 17/40 (20060101); H04Q
7/34 (20060101); G06F 17/00 (20060101); H04M
11/08 (20060101); G06K 19/067 (20060101); G06F
017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;235/360,381,375,382,382.5 ;701/209,202 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10063192 |
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Aug 1994 |
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BE |
|
2612669 |
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Sep 1988 |
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FR |
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2228123 |
|
Aug 1990 |
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GB |
|
2243705 |
|
Nov 1991 |
|
GB |
|
8-110923 |
|
Apr 1996 |
|
JP |
|
8-235395 |
|
Sep 1996 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Le; Thien M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Antonelli, Terry, Stout &
Kraus, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one of said group holding a portable
information storing unit may determine how the other visitors of
said group are moving about said facility; and
displaying the action of the other visitors holding a portable
information storing unit on a display of an access terminal for
said portable information storing units as a visiting status and a
visiting time of each visitor in said facility.
2. The method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one of said group holding a portable
information storing unit may determine how the other visitors of
said group are moving about said facility; and
issuing said portable information storing unit as a qualification
ticket for said facility, when said portable information storing
units are to be registered as one group.
3. The method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one of said group holding a portable
information storing unit may determine how the other visitors of
said group are moving about said facility; and
registering said portable information storing units in a group
through said access terminal.
4. A method for aiding in the user of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
enabling an access terminal for said portable information storing
unit provided in said facility to display visitable unit facilities
located in said facility, a visiting history about said unit
facilities of the visitor holding said portable information storing
unit, and a waiting time of each of said unit facilities.
5. The method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one of said group holding a portable
information storing unit may determine how the other visitors of
said group are moving about said facility,
wherein said portable information storing unit serves as a ticket
for unit facilities located in said facility and electronic money
as a substitute for cash.
6. The method for aiding in the use of a recreational facility
arranged to equip each visitor with a portable information storing
unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said access terminal located in
said recreational facility includes a function of printing data on
the surface of said portable information storing unit so that the
visiting history of a certain visitor may be printed on the surface
of said portable information storing unit when said visitor enters
into one of the unit facilities provided in the recreational
facility.
7. A recording medium for recording a computer program to be
executed by a computer for aiding in the use of a facility arranged
to equip each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
said computer program when executed causes the computer to
execute:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one of said group holding a portable
information storing unit may determine how the other visitors of
said group are moving about said facility.
8. A system for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
one or more access terminals for said portable information storing
units;
a computer system for managing system information,
wherein said computer system communicates with said access
terminals through communications lines so that information may be
transferred between said computer system and said access terminals;
and
means for holding a group code of a portable information storing
unit of each visitor for visiting each of unit facilities included
in said facility and a visiting time of each visitor in said each
unit facility,
wherein if one of the visitors puts his or her portable information
storing unit into an access terminal, then the visiting history in
said facility of the portable information storing units of the
other visitors with the same group code as that of said portable
information storing unit put into said access terminal are
displayed on said access terminal.
9. A system for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
one or more access terminals for said portable information storing
units;
a computer system for managing system information,
wherein said computer system communicates with said access
terminals through communications line so that information may be
transferred between said computer system and said access terminals;
and
means for holding a group code of a portable information storing
unit of each visitor for visiting each of unit facilities included
in said facility and a visiting time of each visitor in said each
unit facility,
wherein messages being held in said access terminals in the form of
an animation, a still picture or voice are communicated among the
visitors holding said portable information storing units belonging
to the same group through said access terminals.
10. A system for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
one or more access terminals for said portable information storing
units;
a computer system for managing system information,
wherein said computer system communicates with said access
terminals through communications lines so that information may be
transferred between said computer system and said access terminals;
and
means for determining a trend of visitors of each of unit
facilities located in said facility through use of a sensor for
sensing portable information storing units of said visitors, and a
waiting time of each unit facility and displaying said trend and
waiting time on said access terminal.
11. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one member of said group can exchange a
message with another of said group through an access terminal for
said portable information storing unit provided in said facility
executing the exchange of a message with the other visitors holding
said portable information storing unit on said display of said
access terminal in the form of an animation, a still picture or
voice; and
issuing said portable information storing unit as a qualification
ticket for said facility, when said portable information storing
units are to be registered as one group.
12. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one of said group holding a portable
information storing unit may determine how the other visitors of
said group are moving about said facility;
displaying the action of the other visitors holding said portable
information storing units on a display of an access terminal for
said portable information storing units as a visiting status and a
visiting time of each visitor in said facility; and
registering said portable information storing units in a group
through said access terminal.
13. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
issuing each portable information storing unit as a qualification
ticket for said facility, when said portable information storing
units are to be registered as one group; and
registering said portable information storing units in a group
through an access terminal.
14. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in said portable information
storing units so that one member of said group can exchange a
message with another of said group through an access terminal for
said portable information storing units provided in said facility;
and
registering said portable information storing unit in a group
through said access terminal.
15. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in said portable information
storing units so that one member of said group can exchange a
message with another of said group through an access terminal for
said portable information storing units provided in said
facility,
wherein each portable information storing unit serves as a ticket
for unit facilities located in said facility and electronic money
as a substitute for cash.
16. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
allowing said visitor to specify a condition of unit facilities
located in said facility on an access terminal for said portable
information storing units provided in said facility; and
enabling said access terminal to display said unit facilities for
meeting said specified condition,
wherein said portable information storing unit serves as a ticket
for said unit facilities located in said facility and electronic
money as a substitute for cash.
17. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one of said group holding a portable
information storing unit may determine how the other visitors of
said group are moving about said facility,
wherein said portable information storing unit serves as a ticket
for unit facilities located in said facility and electronic money
as a substitute for cash,
wherein said access terminal located in said facility includes a
function of printing data on a surface of a portable information
storing unit so that the visiting history of a certain visitor may
be printed on the surface of said portable information storing unit
when said visitor enters into one of said unit facilities provided
in said facility.
18. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
registering plural visitors as a group in each portable information
storing unit so that one member of said group can exchange a
message with another of said group through an access terminal for
said portable information storing unit provided in said
facility,
wherein said access terminal located in said recreational facility
includes a function of printing data on the surface of said
portable information storing unit so that the visiting history of a
certain visitor may be printed on the surface of said portable
information storing unit when said visitor enters into one of the
unit facilities provided in the facility.
19. A method for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip
each visitor with a portable information storing unit,
comprising:
allowing said visitor to specify a condition of unit facilities
located in said facility on an access terminal for said portable
information storing units provided in said facility; and
enabling said access terminal to display said unit facilities for
meeting said specified condition,
wherein said portable information storing unit serves as a ticket
for unit facilities located in said facility and electronic money
as a substitute for cash, and
wherein said access terminal located in said recreational facility
includes a function of printing data on a surface of a portable
information storing unit so that the visiting history of a certain
visitor may be printed on the surface of said portable information
storing unit when said visitor enters into one of said unit
facilities provided in said facility.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and a method for aiding
in the use of a facility arranged to equip visitors with portable
information storing units. More particularly, the invention relates
to the system and the method for aiding in the use of a facility
which are used for supporting the users' comfortable enjoyment of
various attractions (or unit facilities) held in a facility such as
a theme park.
With recent progress of electronic component and semiconductor
technologies, an IC card and a magnetic card have been developed.
Those cards are currently used in various human daily activities.
They have some advantages such as portability and possible
substitute for cash.
Particularly in a theme park currently in fashion, the visitors
normally have the desire to airily go therearound. Further,
likewise, those who run the theme park would like to improve the
quality of their theme park, so that they have been likely to
positively go about a system for using those cards consistently in
the theme park for several purposes such as fare adjustments.
The main use of a portable card in for example theme park is to
automatically adjust the fare and automatically authenticating if a
person is qualified for entering into attraction facilities such as
special vehicles in the theme park.
If several persons enter as a group into a facility such as a theme
park, the group may be often divided into subgroups or individuals,
because they have their own concerns or each person would like to
go around the facility with his or her favorite person(s). In this
case, the group of persons may make a previous arrangement about a
waiting place and time. Then, they will meet at the arranged place
and time. However, as a disadvantageous point, between when they
are separated from each other and when they meet at the waiting
place, one of them may not be aware of the time, location and
progress of the other persons around the facility, thereby causing
some of the group to have to wait for the other persons for a
considerably long time. Further, if a person is strayed from the
group or the subgroup, it is quite difficult for him or her to meet
the other members because the facility is large and very
crowded.
Moreover, when the visitors become involved in an attraction such
as a special vehicle, they usually review the contents of a
pamphlet given in when buying tickets or a bulletin board in the
facility so as to select their own favorite attractions. In this
case, they may not be aware of the features of each attraction and
how long they have to wait, so that their selection of the
attractions may be somewhat risky.
Further, the visitors may often have a desire to know all the
attraction facilities they have entered today. For such a desire,
disadvantageously, the users of the conventional portable card do
not have any means for making sure of the attraction facilities
they have visited in a day.
As described above, the way of use of the conventional portable
card in the theme park has been typically conventionally focused
onto fare adjustment or check for facilities. It lacks the feature
of providing effective information to the visitors and the
comfortable use of the visitors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a
method for aiding in the use of a facility which are arranged to
provide a user with information according to a user's action
through his or her portable card for generally aiding in the use of
the facility so that the users may enjoy the facility in a more
comfortable environment.
In carrying out the object, according to the invention, a group is
registered in a portable information storing unit such as an IC
card so that a person holding the portable information storing unit
can grasp how the other persons of the same group move around the
facility. The IC card also allows a person of the group to exchange
a message with the other persons through each of access terminals
located in the recreational facility. Further, the access terminal
is enabled to display available facilities, a history of actual
entrances into the attraction facilities, and an actual waiting
time for each attraction facility.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a system for aiding in the use
of a facility arranged to equip each visitor with a portable
information storing unit according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a model illustration showing a structure of a guide
terminal for a theme park;
FIG. 3 is a screen transition view schematically showing an example
of a screen transition of a system for aiding in the use of a
facility arranged to equip each visitor with a portable information
storing unit according to the present invention;
FIGS. 4A, 4B are screen transition views for describing screen
transition described in this embodiment in correspondence to the
action of a user;
FIG. 5 is a model view showing a menu screen of a theme park;
FIG. 6 is a model view showing a screen for indicating a ticket
tariff and prompting a visitor to buy a ticket;
FIG. 7 is a model view showing a screen for checking ticket types
and prompting a visitor to buy a ticket;
FIG. 8 is a model view showing a screen for registering and
checking a group when buying a ticket;
FIG. 9 is a model view showing a pass access screen for registering
a group;
FIG. 10 is a model view showing a screen for registering, checking
and re-registering a group;
FIG. 11 is a model view showing a pass access screen for
inter-group communications;
FIG. 12 is a model view showing a screen on which the group data is
being accessed in the inter-group communications;
FIG. 13 is a model view showing a screen for displaying a bulletin
board of group members;
FIG. 14 is a model view showing a screen for checking action of
each group member;
FIG. 15 is a model view showing a message screen given by a group
member;
FIG. 16 is a model view showing a pass access screen of an
attraction guide;
FIG. 17 is a model view showing a screen on which the group data
included in the attraction guide is being accessed;
FIG. 18 is a model view showing a screen for indicating visited
attractions and a map of a theme park;
FIG. 19 is a model view showing a screen for prompting a user to
specify a condition;
FIG. 20 is a model view showing a screen for indicating an
attraction according to the specified condition;
FIG. 21 is a model view showing a screen for indicating today's
results and obtained points; and
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a more concrete hardware of a system
for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip each visitor
with a portable information storing unit according to an embodiment
of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Later, an embodiment of the invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 22.
System Arrangement of System for Aiding in the Use of a Facility
Arranged to Equip Visitors with Portable Information Storing
Units
At first, the description will be oriented to a system arrangement
of a system for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip a
visitor with a portable information storing unit according to the
present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 and 22.
FIG. 1 shows a system arrangement of a system for aiding in the use
of a facility arranged to equip a visitor with a portable
information storing unit according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 22 shows a more concrete hardware arrangement of the system
for aiding in the use of a facility arranged to equip a visitor
with a portable information storing unit according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
The system arrangement of this embodiment is intended to allow a
visitor to comfortably and cheerfully enjoy a facility such as a
theme park by using a small portable information storing unit such
as an IC card or a magnetic card.
The portable information storing unit is effective mainly for
storing information through a magnetic or an optical means, though
no recording method is specified to the storing unit. Moreover,
since it is held with each visitor when he or she goes around the
facility, the portable information storing unit should be
conveniently small enough to be held in walking.
According to this embodiment, the portable information storing unit
may take the form of a wrist band to be worn around the wrist, an
ordinary card to be put into a purse or a card holder, a neckless
to be worn around the neck, or a name card.
The present embodiment will be described with an example of when it
is used in the theme park. In place, it may be used in any other
facility such as an amusement park, a skifield, a museum, and the
like. Since, herein, the description will be expanded with an
example of the theme park, the portable information storing unit of
the invention is referred to as a "park card". In actual, however,
the using field of the portable information storing unit is not
limited to the park. It is just a term used herein.
In the description, the theme park corresponding to the facility is
arranged to include attractions (often referred to as attraction
facilities as well) as unit facilities. Each visitor enters into
the recreational facility and then selectively into their
attractions.
Further, in the following description of this embodiment, this part
card is used up at one visit of each person. In actual, as will be
described below, this park card may be provided with a function of
a visiting history of the attraction facilities in the theme park.
Hence, it may be valid in a long term such as half a year or one
year or may be used as a subscripting ticket. These long-term
ticket or subscripting ticket may make more effective use of the
history function.
The park card, which is the portable information storing unit
according to the embodiment of the invention, is offered as an
electronic ticket by which the persons can visit the facility.
Ordinarily, it is bought in a ticket office T1. Of course, it may
be bought in a ticket agency.
When a person enters or leaves a facility through a local
attraction gate T2, this card is automatically charged. The way of
charge depends on the type of the park card. For example, with a
one-day free pass ticket, a person can visit all the attraction
facilities in the theme park, so that he or she can freely pass
into all the facility gates. Moreover, this park card is served as
a ticket as well as enables a theme park guide terminal located in
many guide spots T3 in the park to give a theme park guidance to
the user. In addition, the park card is also served as enabling the
owner to exchange a message with his or her group member if the
group members are separated in the theme park.
The park card may be provided with a function of settling up a bill
when the user buys something at a shop T4 or takes a meal at a
restaurant T5. This function conveniently allows the user to go
around the theme park without having cash or taking cash out of the
purse. When the user passes through a final gate of the theme park,
the park card displays the overall charge so that the user can
settle up it.
For managing the information of the system, a theme park system
server is located in a theme park system center C1. The theme part
system server can communicate with the terminals scattered in the
theme park so that it may give an instruction to the terminal. The
server is connected with the terminals scattered in the theme park
through communications lines as indicated in FIG. 1.
In turn, the description will be oriented to a more concrete
hardware arrangement of the system with reference to FIG. 22.
As described above, the theme part system center C1 is configured
of a main computer connected with a server. This server records
various kinds of necessary data as files. The main computer is
connected to I/O units and computers each provided with a sever
through the communications lines, the I/O units and the computers
being installed in the insides of the ticket office T1, a local
attraction gate T2, lots of local theme park guides T3, lots of
shops T4, and lots of restaurants. In this hardware system, the
computer of the theme park system C1 is connected to the computers
located in T1 to T5 so that those computers are served as terminals
for the computer of C1 in a time-sharing manner. The overall system
implements the function of the system for aiding in the use of a
facility arranged to equip each visitor with the portable
information storing unit (to be discussed below).
Theme Park Guide Terminal
In turn, the description will be oriented to the theme park guide
terminal according to this embodiment with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a model view showing a structure of the theme park guide
terminal.
The theme park guide terminal 10 is served to exchange information
with the park card so that it may be supplied with the input given
by the user and display the necessary information. The necessary
information is displayed on a display 11. This display 11 takes the
form of a touch panel so that the user may touch a necessary
portion, from which the user may input necessary information and
proceed the operation along the guidance appearing on the display
11.
A numeral 13 denotes a reader-writer that radiates weak electric
waves 14, through which the information is allowed to be read from
or written in a park card 0.
Moreover, a camera 12, a speaker 15, and a microphone 16 are
provided for the purpose of inputting a message on the guide
terminal and transferring the message to another person of a group.
A printer 17 is used when part or all of the displayed content is
printed.
The display 11 has a large screen on which there appear a log area
22, a status area 24, an operation area 26, and a message area 28.
The status area 24 displays a log such as a service for which this
system is used. The status area 24 is provided under the log area
22 so that the operating status of this terminal is displayed. This
display example indicates the state of doing inter-group
communications. The operation area 26 displays the functions
necessary to the operation. The content of the operation depends on
the state of each operating stage, so that the displayed content of
the operation area 26 is changed in association with the displayed
content of the status area 24, for example. The message area 28
displays a message about the operation given from the system to an
operator or a message given from another operator.
In the lower portion of the theme park guide terminal 10, the
reader-writer 13 for the card 0 and the printer 17 are located.
Further, a second display 30 is provided for explaining the action
and the operation of the reader-writer 13 and the printer. The
message area 28 displays the messages of the operation and the
state of the reader-writer 13 and the printer 17. Further, the
second display 30 displays these messages as well. This makes great
contribution to improving the operativity.
Action and Using Images of System for Aiding in Use of a Facility
Arranged to Equip Visitors with Portable Information Storing
Units
In turn, the description will be oriented to the action and the
using images of the system for aiding in the use of a facility
arranged to equip each visitor with the portable information
storing unit according to this embodiment with reference to FIGS. 3
to 21.
FIG. 3 is a screen transition view schematically showing an example
of screen transition executed in the system for aiding in the use
of the recreational facility arranged to equip each visitor with
the portable information storing unit according to the present
invention.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are screen transition views for describing the
screen transition described in this embodiment in correspondence to
the action of the user.
Later, the action of the storing unit will be described about each
function with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B.
(I) Theme Park Menu
At first, the theme park menu function will be described with
reference to FIG. 5
FIG. 5 is a model view showing the screen of the theme park
menu.
The user of the park card specifies his or her intentional function
on the theme park menu 100. The user can call the screen of the
function by touching the corresponding portion of the menu to the
intentional function.
Hereafter, for example, it is considered that the user calls a
function of buying a ticket, a function of registering a group, a
function of inter-group communications, and a function of an
attraction guide.
(II) Function of Buying a Ticket
At first, the description will be oriented to the procedure of
guiding the user to buy a ticket through the guide function of
buying a ticket with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.
FIG. 6 is a model view showing a ticket tariff and a ticket-buying
screen.
FIG. 7 is a model view showing a screen of indicating the types of
ticket and prompting the user to buy the necessary ticket.
FIG. 8 is a model view showing a screen of registering and checking
a group in buying a ticket.
By touching the item of a ticket tariff and buying on the theme
park menu 100 shown in FIG. 5, the ticket tariff and buying screen
SC14 is invoked as shown in FIG. 6. On this screen, a message
appears so that it prompts the user to enter the proper type of
ticket and number of tickets.
Herein, the user touches the item of the ticket type he or she
wants to buy and the portion of the template keys located in the
right hand for specifying the necessary number of the tickets. The
result of the operation appears on the portion of the ticket type
and the specified ticket number as shown in FIG. 6.
The left-hand portion 106 indicates the logo of this theme park,
the currently-operating function, and the buttons for prompting the
user to enter the corresponding commands. If the user touches the
button of "Menu" 104, the screen is transited to the first theme
park menu screen SC13. If the button of "End" 105 is touched, the
current screen is finished and then the first screen of the current
function is displayed. The detailed transition is as shown in FIGS.
4A and 4B. In addition, in either case, the screen shown in FIG. 6
is returned to the theme park menu.
Next, it is assumed that the user touches the button of "Buy" 103.
In this case, the next content-checking and ticket-buying screen
SC15 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed so that the types of the tickets
selected up to now and the total fare are displayed on an area 107.
If the displayed content is identical with the user's intent, the
user merely shades the read-writer with his or her credit card and
puts money into an inlet. The screen shown in FIG. 7 clearly
displays the credit card picture 108 and the money picture 109. If
the user wants to cancel it, the user just touches the button of
"Cancel" 110.
When the user bought plural tickets at a batch, the persons who
hold those tickets are automatically registered as a group. The
screen SC16 for registering a group when buying tickets is
displayed in FIG. 8. On the screen, an illustration of thickets 111
appears. The symbols located in the lower right portion of the
ticket illustration indicate a heart and a number 111, which herein
indicate that a group of three persons is registered. In this
example, since three tickets are bought with a credit card at a
batch, one person's name "HITACHI Tarou" described on the credit
card is described in the ticket illustration. As will be discussed
below, each group member buys his or her ticket and then may be
registered as a group.
Herein, the term "ticket" is often used. In actual, however, the
person who bought the ticket holds the foregoing "park card" served
as a ticket as well.
(III) Function of Registering Group
At first, the description will be oriented to the procedure of how
the user registers a group through the effect of the group
registering function with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
FIG. 9 is a model view showing a pass access screen for registering
a group.
FIG. 10 is a model view showing a screen for registering, checking
and re-registering a group.
When the payments of the group members are different from each
other or the buying times of the group members may be different
from each other, each member buys the park card. At this time, by
touching the item of the group registration on the theme park menu
screen SC13 shown in FIG. 5, the group may be registered.
When the user touches the item of the group registration on the
theme park menu, the pass access screen SC30 for the group
registration shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. According to the message
160, the user shades the reader-writer 13 shown in FIG. 2 with the
park card. The reader-writer 13 operates to read the information
from the park card and register the holder of the park card in a
group. The result is displayed on the screen SC31 for registering,
checking and re-registering a group shown in FIG. 10. A display
portion 161 of the group members indicates each member's name and a
combination of a heat of a number for corresponding to an
identification code of each group member as shown in FIG. 10.
When a new group member is registered, someone of the members
touches the "Next Group Registration" item 162. Then, the screen is
returned to the pass access screen SC30 for registering a group, on
which a new group member may be registered.
(IV) Inter-group Communications Function
In turn, the description will be oriented to the inter-group
communications function with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15.
FIG. 11 is a model view showing a pass access screen for the
inter-group communications.
FIG. 12 is a model view showing a screen for indicating that the
group data is being accessed in the inter-group communications.
FIG. 13 is a model view showing a bulletin board screen for the
group members.
FIG. 14 is a model view showing a screen for checking the action of
each group member.
FIG. 15 is a model view showing a screen for indicating a message
given from a group member.
The description so far has been oriented to how a group is
registered. The main advantage of the group registration is that if
the group members go around the recreational facility separately,
each group member can grasp the action of another member to some
extent and exchange a message with another member.
For example, someone of the group wants to move separately from the
group. Or someone of the group may be stray in the facility. This
group registration is quite convenient to these cases, so that it
may enhance the pleasure taken by each member in the theme
park.
In order to execute the inter-group communications, the group
member touches the item of the inter-group communications function
appearing on the theme park menu screen SC13 shown in FIG. 5.
Then, the screen SC17 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. This screen
SC17, as mentioned above, corresponds to the pass access screen for
the inter-group communications. Along the picture 120 depicting the
necessary action and the message 121, the user shades the theme
park guide terminal 10 with the pass.
If a relatively long time is taken in communicating with a server
after accessing the theme park guide terminal 10, another message
122 is displayed on the screen SC18 on which the group data shown
in FIG. 12 is being accessed.
When data is downloaded from the server, the bulletin board screen
SC19 of the group member shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. On this
screen, a list of the group members is displayed together with a
title 123. If a name 124a of the group member is grasped like the
name "HITACHI Tarou" in FIG. 13, the name, the identification code
and the symbol 124b are displayed.
On the screen SC19 shown in FIG. 13, an action check icon 125
appears if the action of a group member may be checked and a
message icon 126 appears if a message from a group member is
reached. Further, when the group member wants to send a message,
the group member touches an icon for indicating a message transfer
or an item 127.
It is assumed that the user touches the action check icon 125 of
the heart-3 on the bulletin board. Then, the action check screen
SC21 of the group members shown in FIG. 14 appears on the
terminal.
On this action check screen, the action of the member with the
heart-3 is displayed by an animation 131 in a time sequence
together with the time indications as shown in FIG. 14. It means
that when the member with the heart-3 enters into an attraction
facility in the theme park, the system grasps the action of the
member. To keep track of the member in more detail, plural sensors
are located at regular intervals in the theme park. When a person
with the park card passes through the sensor, the sensor serves to
sense the time and the card code. This system thus makes it
possible to keep track of the member in more detail.
By touching the item "Print" 132, the printer 17 shown in FIG. 2 is
enabled to print the screen. Next, it is assumed that the user
touches the message icon 126 on the bulletin board screen shown in
FIG. 13.
At this time, on the theme park guide terminal shown in FIG. 2, the
message screen SC20 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed. The message
screen SC20 indicates a message sent from another group member. On
the screen SC20 are displayed a display portion 127a for indicating
that the message is sent from the member with the heart-3, a still
picture or an animation 127b of the member, a voice message, and a
place and time indication 127c. FIG. 15 shows the screen where a
pretty girl who is the member with the heart-3 gives the other
members a V sign. The transfer of an animation message
disadvantageously needs a large storage capacity and a heavy load
burdened on the system. From a viewpoint of a user interface,
however, it is advantageous.
If the user wants to view the animation again or hear the voice
again, the user touches the item "View it again" 129. If the user
wants to return it to the bulletin board screen on which the other
operation is to be done, the user touches the item "Return to the
Bulletin Board" 128.
(V) Attraction Guide Function
Next, the description will be oriented to the attraction guide
function with reference to FIGS. 16 to 21.
FIG. 16 is a model view showing a pass access screen for the
attraction guide.
FIG. 17 is a model view showing a screen where the group data is
being accessed in the attraction guide.
FIG. 18 is a model view showing a screen where the visited
attractions and the park map appear.
FIG. 19 is a model view showing a screen where conditions are to be
specified.
FIG. 20 is a model view showing an attraction screen according to
the specified condition.
FIG. 21 is a model view showing the screen where the today's
results and the obtained points.
Persons who visit the theme park range from the child to the old in
age, so that their tastes are variable. Some like a thrilling
attraction, while some like a slowgoing one. In particular, the
persons' tastes of an amusement are so variable, which thus
requires a guide. Further, it may be necessary to show the visiting
history of a user and the waiting time of an attraction facility
the user now wants to enjoy.
Also for using the attraction guide, at first, the user touches the
item of the attraction guide on the theme park menu screen SC13
shown in FIG. 5.
Then, the screen is transited to the pass access screen SC22 of the
action guide shown in FIG. 16. Along the picture 120 depicting the
necessary action and the message 121, the user shades the proper
portion of the theme park guide terminal 10 shown in FIG. 2 with
the park card. This is the same procedure as that described
before.
If a considerably long time is taken in communicating with the
server after accessing the theme park guide terminal 10 shown in
FIG. 2, the screen SC23 on which the attraction data is being
accessed is served to indicate a message 141.
When data is downloaded from the server, the screen is transited to
the screen SC24 for displaying the visited attractions and the park
map shown in FIG. 18. On this screen, the park map, the attractions
142a the user has already visited, and the attractions 142b the
user does not visit yet are distinguished from one another.
Further, the screen also indicates the waiting time of each
attraction, which is useful information for the user. If the user
would like to make an effective use of his or her time, the user
preferably goes to the attraction with a relatively shorter waiting
time without going to the attraction that needs a long waiting
time.
It is requested that the data on the waiting time are collected in
the server. In place, however, a staff may report the waiting time
for which he or she is responsible to the center. Or, it is
possible to build a system for automatically collecting data by
locating sensors in places where persons for waiting for
attractions are queued up.
When the user wants to specify the favorite condition and select
the attraction he or she would like to visit, the user touches the
"Specify the condition" item 144. Then, the screen is transited to
the screen SC25 for specifying the condition shown in FIG. 19. The
user touches the favorite item of the menu 150. For example, the
item of "attraction that warms the cockles of the heart" is
selected. Then, the screen is transited to the screen SC26 for
attractions meeting the selected condition as shown in FIG. 20.
This screen displays on the park map 151 the attraction for meeting
the selected condition with the waiting time 152.
On the other hand, when the user decides to leave the theme park,
the user may touch the "Today's result" item 143 shown in FIG. 18
for checking the visited attractions. At this time, the screen for
the today's results and the obtained points SC27 is displayed as
shown in FIG. 21.
This screen indicates on the park map the attractions the user has
visited today with the flags raised in addition to a message 153
about the obtained points and a point icon 155. Such a
demonstration may result in satisfying the user's desire for
conquering the attractions and making the user have a victorious
feeling on his or her way back.
The points are a kind of service the operator of the theme park
provides to the user. More often the user uses the park card, more
points the user gets. The points the user got may be swapped with
the corresponding gift, cash or special invitation ticket. This
system may press a person who visited the theme park once to the
next visit.
By touching the "Print" item 156, the user may bring the "results"
back to his or her home.
Moreover, it is possible to print the attractions the user entered
at that day on the park card as the history. In this case, the card
terminal installed in the theme park may be provided with a
printing function.
This attraction guide function is required to record the history of
the attractions the user have visited since. This is effective if
the part card is used in the succeeding visits.
This type of successive card allows the user to utilize the history
of the attractions at the previous visits. This makes it possible
to avoid the visit of the already-visited attraction because the
user forgets it. Or, the user may have a pleasure of reaching the
conquest of all the attractions in the theme park after several
visits.
Moreover, the system may be arranged to save the condition
specified on the condition-specifying screen in the past. In this
arrangement, the operator of the theme park may grasp the user's
taste and may provide the user with the service of displaying a
guide screen for a new attraction for meeting the previously
specified conditions if any.
As set forth above, the present invention may offer a system and a
method for aiding in the use of the facility which are arranged to
supply information according to a user's action by using a portable
card or the like, so that they may generally provide a more
comfortable environment when the user visits the facility.
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